On 8t of May 2013, the UNFPA Office in Kosovo in cooperation with Islamic Community of Kosovo (ICK) organized a round table on” Role of Islam in prevention of gender based violence. The audience of over 130 participants included the head of “Islamic Community of Kosovo” (ICK), religious leaders form all municipalities of Kosovo, female members of ICK, foreign diplomats, Government officials, civil society activists and the media.
The head of UNDCO Osnat Lubrani delivered the opening remarks firmly confirming the UN stance against GBV and called on wider societal inclusion of all actors in order to prevent and fight this negative phenomenon still present in Kosovo.
In his sharp and straight-forward speech, the head of ICK Mufti Naim Ternava clearly opposed the GBV. He stressed that the GBV has no ground nor approval in Islam religion and added that “both man and woman are equal according to Quran.”
Moderated by UNFPA Assistant Representative Visare Mujko Nimani, the event followed with various questions and comments from the audience, which emphasized the valuable role the Islamic Community of Kosovo could provide in prevention of gender-based violence.
This round table, organized for the first time in Kosovo, will be followed by series of round tables planned to be organized with other religious communities in Kosovo as well .
The event attracted large media attention, both print and electronic. Kosovo wide TV stations, “TV 21” , “Klan Kosova”- http://klankosova.tv/index.php/lajme-nga-vendi.html, “Radio Vala Rinore” reported in their main evening news editions international media including VOA VOA http://www.zeriamerikes.com/content/islami-gruaja-kosova-/1656965.html?… also reported on the event.
